Thermoelectric generator



Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE o'rro rEoszNER, OF'HANAUZ-ONJHE-MZAIN,GERMANY, assrenon TO THE FIRM: w. c. HERAEUS .cnsnmisonar'r MIT BEsonnANxrnn HAFTUNG, or HANAU-ON-THE- MAflIN, GE MANY, A GERMAN SOCIE'IY' THERMOELEQTRIO GENERATOR no Drawing. Application.filedseptember 8, 1925, Serial 'No. 55,178, and in Germany September 8, 192 4.

. thermo-elements consist of alloys. The

ternary alloys containing 'thermo-electric combinations of this kind hitherto known, have the disadvantage that the thermoelectric properties-of the metallic mixtures will change when they are subjected to alternate heating and cooling. The potential difference between such elements at a given temperature will therefore not be sufliciently constant. This applies particularly to all alloys containing base metals. 4 Thermoelectric elements consisting of binary alloys ofprecious metals, forexample palladiumgold, have been proposed but these do not show a sulficient constancy of potential as their properties areconsiderably changed by the absorption of gas. i

It'has now been found that thermo-electric couples of a' remarkable constancy and excellent qualities will be obtained by making one element or both of alloys containing more than two precious metals preferably simple palladium or a similar platinum metal capable in itself of absorbing gas, a precious metal of group one of the periodic system, for example gold and at least one other metal of the platinum group, such as platinum in a relatively small amount.

Such thermo-electric combinations, containing three or more precious metals as defined above, differ from the binary alloys of palladium with gold or silver known in thermo-elcctric combinations, by exhibiting little or no gas-absorption and by a high con stancy of their thermo-electric properties.

For negative elements those ternary alloys of the kind described above are particularly suitable in which a precious metal, such as gold-or silver, occupies the first place as regards' weight, palladium the second and another platinum metal the third, for example platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, or the like. For example, alloys composed of about 60 parts oigold, 3-5parts of palladium and about invention,

have proved to be highly efficient.

' Inthis case any metals or alloys of a sufliciently high thermo-power, such as platinum,

platinum-rhodium etc., may serve for positive elements.

\Vhen using platinum alone as a positive element in conjunction with a negative ele ment composed of a ternary alloy of the kind described, there will be obtained, for examle with a permanent application of about 1200 C. a thermo-power of approximately 40 milli-volts. This can be further increased by replacing the platinum element by an element composed of an alloy having a positive thermo-power with relation to platinum.

For positive elements'the composition of the ternary alloy must be modified so that the palladium or another gas adsorptive plat- 1 inum metal predominates in quantity, another platinum metal holds the second place and the metal ofgroup one, such as gold or silver, the third. An alloy adapted for the thermo-electric couple as a positive element contains for example about 55 parts of palladium, 35 parts of platinum, or rhodium or ruthenium and 10 parts of gold.

' The absorption of gas in the thermo-clcments renders their properties variable.

Thermo-couples composed of such gas absorptive alloys will not in general, exhibit the same potential difference when heated at different times to a given temperature. The ternary alloys according to theipresent invention exhibit remarkable constancy of properties and show little or no absorption of gas. However the efiect of such gas absorption as may be exhibited can be nullified to a substantial extent by choosing two elements of such composition that the change of potential caused by gas absorption in one element is compensated for by the change of potential caused by gas absorption in the other element, so that the net potential difference exhibited by the thermo couple is substantially independent, of any gas absorption. By way of example, ternary alloys may be used for both elements in accordance with the the negative'element, for example,

containing gold in the p dominating amount, palladiumin the second place and another platinum metal in the third; in the positive element for example, palladium predominates in amount, another platinum metal occupies the secondplace and gold 51' silver the third place. In this instance the gas-absorption of each element is very small and in addition the two elements will completely compensate each other.

As a further development of this idea, a thermo-electric couple .inay be formed in which one element comprises an alloy containing at least three precious metals as defined. above and the other element comprises a binary alloy such as gold-palladium or pa ladium platinum and the ingredients of bot elements are so proportioned that the effect of the gas absorption by the ternary alloy tends to compensate for the effect of the gas absorption by the binary alloy.'

It has been discovered that thermo-electric combinations of excellent qualities can be produced by taking a thermo-element containing at least three precious metals as described above, in conjunction with a second thermo-element which is not composed of a precious metal or of a mixture of precious metals, but of a metal of the iron-group, such as iron itself, or a high-melting metal of group 6 or 7 of the periodic system, such as chromium, manganese, molybdenum, tungstenor the like. The second thermo-element may consist of an alloy of several of the said metals for example nickeliferous or chromsteel, or the steel known in fiermany' as V A- steel. There may be added to such element, if desire one or more of the high-melting metals of group one of the periodic system.

The secondthermo-element referred to in the last paragraph is especially suitable as a positive element in conjunction with a negative element composed of a ternary alloy of the kind already referred to. The composition of the second thermo-element referred to may. however, be so adjusted that it may be employed as a negative element in conjunction with a positive element composed of a ternary alloy of the kind already referred-tor The metals and alloys of the iron, nickel and cobalt groups in combination with the ternary or higher ,alloys have particularly proved advantageous when their constancy of potential at any given temp rature, resistance to gas and to steam as well as their resistance to oxidation is increased by special means. This may, for example be done by adding chromium, tungsten, manganese and the like. Such properties may also be imparted to the metals or alloys'in question for a high compression, by pressure, by their preparation in the electrical Way or through other known improving processes. I claim: 1. A thermocouple having at least one periodic system and; at-least a third an addielement composed of an alloy of more than two precious metals among which there is one a highly gas-absorptive platinum metal, another a precious metat of. group one of the tional platinum metal. 2A thermo couple having both elements composed of an allo of more than two precious metals among. which there. iscone a highly gasrabsorptive platinum metal, an other a precious .metal of'group one of the periodic system and at least .a third"an'addi= tional platinum metal.

3. A thermo-couple having at least one element composed of afi alloy'of more than two preciousmeta'ls among which there is one palladium, another a precious metal of group one of the periodic system .and at leasta third an additional platinum metal.

4. A thermo-cou-ple having at least one ele-' ment composed ofan alloyv of more than two precious metals among whiclrthere is one palladium, another gold and at' least a thlrd an additional platinum metal.

5. A thermo-couple havin at least one element composed of an alloy 0 palladium, gold and platinum.

6. A thermo-couple having atleastgone, element composed of an alloy of palladium, gold, platinum and ruthenium. d

7. A thermo-couple in 'which the negativ element consists of an alloy contalning a predominating weight of a precious metal-of group one of the periodic system, a lnghlyv gas-absorptive platinum metal and a minor proportionof atleast one additional platinum metal. v

8. A thermo-cou'ple as claimed in cla1m 7 in which the alloy. for the negative element contains a weight of precious metal of group one of the periodic system approx1mately double-the weight of highly gas-absorptive platinum metal applied.

9. A thermo-couple as claimed in claim 7 in which the alloy for the negative element contains about 60 parts of gold, about 35 parts of palladium and about 5 partsof platinum.

contains the gas-absorptive platinum; meta in weight approximately doublethat of theadditional platinum metals. 4 example in their production, for example, by"

12. A' thermo-couple as claime m claiin las 10in which the alloy for the positive element contains about 55'parts of palladium, about 35 parts of platinum and aboutlO parts of 13. A therm0-coupleas claimed in claim 7 in which the positive element consists of an alloy containing apredominating weight of a gas-absorptive platinum metal, at least one additional platinum metal and a minor proportion of a precious metal of group one of the periodic system.

14. A thermo-couple as claimed in claim 1 in which the second element consists of an alloy comprising two precious metals.

15. A thermo-couple as claimed in claim 1 in which the second element consists of an alloy comprising platinum and palladium.

16.- A thermo-couple as claimed in claim 1 in which the second element comprises a metal of group eight of the periodic system.

17. A thermo-couple as claimed in claim 1 in which the second element is composed of an alloy comprising metals of group eight of the periodic system.

18. A thermo-couple as claimed in claim 1 in which the second element is composed of an alloy containing at least one metal of group eight of the periodic system and at least one metal of groups six, seven and one of the periodic system.

19. A thermo-couple as claimed in claim 1 in which the second element is composed of an alloy containing at least one metal of group eight of the periodic system and at least one metal with high melting point of group six, seven and one of the periodic system.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si ature.

DR. OTTO FEUSZ ER. 

